World of Light: SSBU Adventure Mode Guide

World of Light Walkthrough

Nintendo designed a Super Smash Bros Ultimate adventure mode, the World of Light, that allows players to unlock fighters and spirits and battle it out in fantastic and unique fights across the world. The perfect cool down to a few intense Elite Smash matches, don't you think? If you want to know more about other game modes within SSBU, make sure to check out our guide on them here!

We don't want to spoil you too much on what goes on in The World of Light lore-wise, though it is a pretty fun story! If you're want to experience all that for yourself first do so and then come back to find all the little things you might have missed! Keep in mind that this handy guide will spoil you on what you can find in each location, what each fight entails, and what the rewards are for each.

For this guide, we have divided each region of the Super Smash Bros Ultimate World of Light map into its own section, which you can navigate to with the table of contents above. 

The Light Realm

Starting Area

After the opening cinematic, you will be playing as Kirby, with a choice of three paths. Worth noting that once you've chosen a path, the others will be blocked, but you will be able to unlock the other characters after. Captive Battles are the fights that will unlock new characters for you to play, while Spirit Battles will unlock more power and special bonuses that can be used in the rest of the adventure. Spirit Battles are also trickier than Captive Battles, as they often have hidden mechanics or themes that, once known, can make the fights easier. It's a puzzle game!

Mushroom Platforms

If you chose to take on Marth for your Captive Battle in the starting area, you will unlock the Mushroom Platform area giving you access to Pac-Man and Olimar as your fighter unlock. In this area there are also 10 Skill points, south of the yellow-capped mushroom. There is also 500 Skill points at the north of this region, near the cliffs.

The River Woods

If you chose to take on Sheik for your Captive Battle in the starting area, you will unlock The River Woods area giving you access to Jigglypuff as your fighter unlock. There are two treasures in this area. 10 skill points near the still pond at the north. the other is a music piece in the northeast corner past the Fi fight.

The Raceway

If you chose to take on Villager for your Captive Battle in the starting area, you will unlock the Raceway area giving you access to Captain Falcon as your fighter unlock. There is only one treasure in this area, 10 Skill points near the bridge on the other side of the raceway.

The Southern Great Plateau

After playing through the Raceway or the Mushroom Platform you will open access to the Southern Great Plateau. Here you will be able to unlock Link. This is also the region in which you will be able to find the portal to the World Tour zone, just north of the Star Rod fight. The area also has a 500 Skill point treasure located at its most southern location next to the Professor Chops battle.

The Eastern Town

After playing through the Raceway or the River Woods, you will open access to the Eastern Town. Here you will be able to unlock Mii Swordfighter and Isabelle. You can also enter this area through the Cliffside Rapids, north of the River Woods. The area also has a 500 Skill point treasure located in the center of the town.

World Tour

After playing through the Southern Great Plateau, you will open access to the World Tour. Here you will be able to unlock Ryu. For all the matches in this area, except the captive battle, you and your opponent will have reduced jump height. They are also can reflect projectiles, have increased power for their specials move, and to top it all off its a Stamina Battle. 

The Ribbon Road

After playing through the River Woods, you will open access to Ribbon Road. Here you will be able to unlock Yoshi and Dr. Mario. You can also enter this area through Lumiose City, The heart Pool Mountain, or the Cliffside Rapids. The area also has a floral hat cosmetic for the Miis located in its northernmost point, right after the Spirit Battle with Ana.

The Cliffside Rapids

After playing through the Eastern Town, or The Ribbon Road you will open access to the Cliffside Rapids. Here you will be able to unlock Pikachu and Lucario. In this area you will also find the entry to the Molten Castle dungeon and two treasures: Ten skill points and Gyrados.

The Molten Fortress

After completing the Cliffside Rapids you will have access to The Molten Fortress. You will need to work your way through this dungeon to weaken Galeem. Two treasures are available here, Melty Monster music and a pack of two large snacks before the final two battles.

The Military Base

after going through the Mushroom Platforms you will be able to enter the Military Base. You can also enter this area if you go through Kongo Jungle. This area's captive battle is Mega Man. After completing this area, you will also have access to the Base dungeon.

The Base

Once the Military Base is cleared, you can access the Base, a labyrinthian set of corridors with numbered doors. At the end of it a fight with Galleom. This is another dungeon you will need to pass in order to defeat Galeem. You can also unlock Snake here.

The Kongo Jungle

After passing through the Mushroom Platforms or the Military Base you will be able to enter the Kongo Jungle. This place is also accessible through Lumiose City. The area's captive fighter is Donkey Kong and holds two treasures. Wrinkly Kong, in the small pond due west after poppy Bros Jr. and a music unlock, Jungle Level - Tribal Style.

Lumiose City

Past the Ribbon Road and Kongo Jungle is Lumiose City. Home of Wii fit Trainer and Little Mac. A 500 SP treasure can be found on the back alleys north of the city. This location can also be accessed by Console City to the south.

Console City

The big metropolitan area of Console City is accessible from Lumiose City, River Woods, Kongo Jungle, and Mushroom Platforms. The area houses Inkling and two chests with 20 Skill points and a Mii headgear.

The Poison Woods

If you have completed Kongo Jungle or Lumiose City, you will have access to the Poison Woods. Worth noting that from here, you can also come and go to the Northwestern Town, Heart Pool Mountain, and the Frozen Mountain. This area will allow you to unlock Duck Hunt and give you access to the Power Plant dungeon. There is also a wealth of treasures to be found here. 5000, 1000, and 10 Skill points scattered across the area along with three medium snacks, Nihilego, and Dixie Kong's hat for Miis. 

The Power Plant

Beneath the Poison Woods lies the Power Plant. Turned off when you first encounter it, after completing the fights and activating all the switches it will turn on again open new areas in the World Of light. The Captive Battle of this area is Pichu, you will also find a few items along the way.

The Heart Lake Mountain

This area is accessible through three different paths. Lumiose City, Ribbon Road, and the Poison Woods. From here you can also reach the Frozen Mountain later. Fox is the Captive Battle and there is a Mii hat and a musical treasure in the area. One is due south of the heart lake, and the other north needs the woods.

The Northwestern Town

Past the Kongo Jungle and the Poison Woods is the Northwestern Town. This area also opens the path for the Frozen Mountain. Lucas is the Captive Fighter of this area. A couple of snacks can be found after your fight with Brewster.

The Frozen Mountain

After passing through the Northwestern Town and the Heart Lake Mountain you will find the Frozen Mountain. As you might have expected, the Ice Climbers can be found in this area, as well as 3000 SP and the entrance to the Temple of Light.

The Temple of Light

Well in the middle of the Frozen Mountain lies the Temple of Light. In order to access this area, you will need to have activated the buttons in the Kongo Jungle, Heart Lake Mountain, and Cliffside Rapids. Once completed, you will have access to the East side of the Light Realm as well as the Captive Fighters Simon and Pit.

Outer Space

Past the Frozen Mountain lies the great Outer Space. On one of the outer edges of the World of Light, you will find Falco here as well as a few snacks. Other than that, there is not much to do here.

The Pac-Man Maze

Crossing the bridge in the Eastern Town after completing the Temple of Light leads into the Pac-Man Maze. Once inside you will find routes to the Badlands, Beachside Town, and Mountain Falls. Inside the maze Samus and Mr. Game & Watch await.

The Beachside Town

Through the southern exit of the Pac-Man Maze is the Beachside Town. It leads out towards the Mountain Falls, the Alolan Islands, and DK Island. The Captive fighter in here is Pokemon Trainer.

DK Island

Tied into the end of the Beachside Town is the DK Island. Your captive fighter for this area is Diddy Kong.

The Alolan Islands

Past the Beachside Town, you can go to the Alolan Islands where one of the dungeons weakens Galeem's shield. the Forest Hills. Inside this area, you will find Mii Gunner and 20 skill points.

The Forest Hill

Within the Alolan Islands is the Forest Hill dungeon. Inside this area, you will be able to unlock Toon Link.

The Mountain Falls

You can enter the Mountain Falls from either the Beachside Town or the Badlands, but you will need to have found Alfonzo & Engineer in the Alolan Islands before adding past this area. In here you'll find Shulk as well as 5000 skill points.

The Badlands

The badlands in due north of the Pac-Man-Maze but you will need to unlock the region by completing the Alolan Islands first. No captive fighters in this area, but lots of spirit fights and 5020 skill points spread across the area.

The Raging Volcano

Past the Badlands is the Raging Volcano, a location that has to be traversed to enter the Floating Islands. You will unlock Zero Suit Samus going through it as well as a couple of large snacks and 20 skill points.

The Floating Islands

Up through the beanstalk found in the Raging Volcano are the Floating Islands. In this area, you will be able to free Ness and grab a couple of snacks as well as open the path to the Gourmet Race.

The Gourmet Race

This zone works a little differently from most others and is unlocked by completing the Floating Islands. For one, it is treated as a way path to collect as much food as possible by the end of the route. Depending on how much food you have collected, you will get a reward, with first-place earning King Dedede, second Chef Kawasaki, and third Waddle Dee. These last two are spirits.

Best Path Broken Down at each stop in the race:

• left, Left
• Right
• Left
• Right
• Left, Left, Right Left
• Right
• Left
• Right
• Right
• Left

The Galeem Boss Fight

If you have completed all the previous areas thus far then you will be able to start the fight with Master Hand and Galeem. If not, you need to make sure to finish up the Military Base, Molten Fortress, and Forest Hill before heading here, as each has a shield battery protecting this boss.

Defeating Galeem is not the end though, now we head to the Dark Realm. From there the paths are North, East, and West.

North Dark Realm

Going north when entering the Dark Realm will lead you to a wild landscape that contains a self-contained area within, the Mysterious Dimension. In this area, you will be able to find a handful of medium snacks as well as Rosalina & Luma. As with all the other Dark Realm areas, if you have visited those before and fought the Crazy Hand, it will not appear in this area.

East Dark Realm

Going east when entering the Dark Realm will lead you to an area that leads further down to Dracula's Castle. In this area, you will be able to find a handful of medium snacks, 3020 skill points and Lucina as your captive fighter. As with all the other Dark Realm areas, if you have visited those before and fought the Crazy Hand, it will not appear in this area.

West Dark Realm

Going west when entering the Dark Realm will lead you to an area that leads further down to the Sacred Lands. In this area, you will find Incineroar as your captive fighter. As with all the other Dark Realm areas, if you have visited those before and fought the Crazy Hand, it will not appear in this area.

The Mysterious Dimension

After travelling the Northside of the Dark Realm you will be able to enter the Mysterious Dimension. Like the other dungeons in the Dark Realm, you will need to finish it to face Dharkon, later on. The way to traverse it is to select a spirit to fight, choose the right one and be rewarded, choose the wrong one and the bonus skill points and snacks will be taken away. By playing through the area you will unlock R.O.B, Greninja, Wolf, Corrin, Ike, Mewtwo, King K. Rool, Meta Knight, & Luigi.

Dracula's Castle

Completing the east side of the Dark Realm will lead you to Dracula's Castle, like the other dungeons in the Dark Realm, you need to complete it in order to then fight off Dharkon. To navigate the Castle you will need to pull various levers to open new paths. Here you will also have access to seven captive fighters: Richter, Daisy, Wario, Ridley, Ken, Dark Pit, & Robin.

The Sacred Lands

Going west in the Dark World will eventually unlock this area. In here you will need to find clues in each of the sectors to clear up the north side of the dungeon and defeat the boss. Each of the owl statues carries a message, here they are in order and what they mean:

1. "I am the one who speaks the truth." - The Owls statues will guide you with clues.
2. "The sword that seals the darkness can cleave this gloom." - The Master Sword can disperse the fog in the north.
3. "Wisdom and Courage will be your allies." - You will need to unlock Zelda and Young Link to get the Master Sword.
4. "Courage lies within the hopeful girl who waits for her friend." - You need to find Saria to get to Young Link.
5. "East, South, and then continue South. The invisible path calls for you." - Part 1, continue clearing the forest for the next one.
6. "North, West, North, then continue North. Dive in with Courage." - Part 2, combine the two and you will find Saria.
7. "Wisdom lies with the royal family's guardian, trapped in time." - You need Impa to find Zelda.
8. "The light of the plaza engraves the time." - There are 12 Touches in the plaza, Blue representing hours.
9. "Torchlight reveals the hour. Create the time I speak." - The other 12, in red, represent minutes.
10. "12:10." - Put in this time in the plaza and Impa will appear.
11. "There is one who awaits the arrival of a hero." - You also need Ganondorf.
12. "Ascend the path of wisdom to face challenges." - Take either the Left or Right path up. The left path unlocks Bowser Jr. But is harder.
13. "04:40" - Back in the plaza, this will unlock Wii Brawler.

In this area you will unlock the following Captive Fighters: Chrom, Young Link, Zelda, Mii Brawler, Sonic, Cloud, Bowser Jr, & Ganondorf. Completing this Dungeon by defeating the final boss, along with the other dungeon's final bosses, will unlock the fight with Dharkon.

The Final Battle

Once ascended after defeating Dharkon in the Dark Realm you will have a new portal leading to the final landscape, a battle between both Dharkon and Galeem, each of which has squared up for their fight with various spirits. You may choose to fight only one of these, the light or dark spirits, freeing either the Crazy or Master Hand and reaching one of the endings of the game. But you can also clear out the whole area and open the path to the true ending of the game. In this final area, you will also have the opportunity to unlock Dark Samus, Bayonetta, Roy, and Palutena.

The True Final Battle

After all your hard work, there is one more fight left. If you have completed all previous spirit fights then now you have to climb up the stage and face both Dharkon & Galeem one last time. After finishing the climb you will have to clear out all the minibosses from the previous dungeons. It is now that you face the two. You can defeat them in any order you want, but both need to be destroyed for the end cinematic to play and to finally complete the World of Light.